The University of Minnesota Crookston is looking to offer groundbreaking skills training to help develop the next generation of agriculture professionals thanks to a partnership with the Rotary Club of Crookston and Polk County, Minn. NXT GEN AG, a program that recently celebrated its first cohort of students, is intended for individuals who are currently in the workforce and may have had some previous higher education experience. The initiative’s pathway is aimed at personal development, communication skills, and leadership techniques that can lead from a certificate into a four-year degree.
A scholarship made possible by a grant the Rotary Club of Crookston received from Polk County for job training assistance could cover up to 100% of NXT GEN AG tuition and course costs for Polk County, Minn. residents with employer paid benefits.
NXT GEN AG courses, which are scheduled to run August 2024 through July 2025 with breaks for fall harvest and spring planting, follow a pathway that includes seven classes to be taken online asynchronously - one course at a time. Course titles include Emerging Leaders Success Seminar, Foundations of Business and Technology, Personal Leadership, Introduction to Creative and Innovative Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making, and Community Engaged Project, plus an upper level elective of choice for a total of 21 credits. Students will complete this accelerated program in less than a year and be supported with a dedicated academic success coach.
To apply or for more information, visit z.umn.edu/NXTGENAG or contact Sarah Monson, assistant director of online and transfer recruitment, at monsons@umn.edu or call 218-281-8565.
